Henry Johnson

Henry Johnson was born into slavery around 1844, and in 1857, he was purchased by future President Andrew Johnson.1 According to oral history, Andrew Johnson freed those he enslaved on August 8, 1863.2 Details about Henry Johnson’s life are scarce, but his obituary states that he accompanied President Andrew Johnson to the White House in 1865 as a paid servant. Joining him were Florence and William Johnson, all of whom were formerly enslaved by the Johnsons.3 

Surviving financial records document an individual named Henry Johnson working at the White House from January through March 1867 and identify his position as “cow man.” Johnson’s daughter, Martha Johnson Patterson (who often served as White House hostess), purchased two cows from New Jersey to provide milk and butter to the first family.4 Based on his title “cow man”, Henry Johnson likely assisted with their care, and his duties may have included feeding and milking the dairy cows, cleaning the barn, managing farm inventory, etc. It is possible that these are two different Henry Johnsons, but further information about Johnson's life is limited. Henry Johnson died in Tennessee in 1890.5